Vatican City, May 16, 2018 / 03:46 am
Expressing his sorrow for those who have lost their lives, Pope Francis Wednesday called for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, which has faced increased violence during the transfer of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
"I am very worried and distressed by the escalation of tensions in the Holy Land and in the Middle East, and by the spiral of violence that is increasingly moving away from the path of peace, dialogue and negotiations," the pope said May 16
Speaking at the end of the general audience, Francis expressed his sorrow for the dead and wounded, saying he is "close with prayer and affection to all those who suffer" and repeating that violence does not lead to peace.
"War calls war, violence calls violence," he said. "God have mercy on us!"